VOA慢速英語: 韓國嘗試重新利用更多的電子垃圾
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South KoreaAttempting to Reuse More E-Waste
韓國嘗試重新利用電子垃圾
South Koreais dealing with increasing amounts of waste from electronic devices. These useless or unwanted parts are often called “e-waste.”
韓國正在處理日益增長的電子產(chǎn)品垃圾。這些沒用或者不需要的零部件通常被稱為“電子垃圾”。
Tons of old computers, telephones and other devices are often taken to landfills and buried under the ground. The old products may leak toxic or poisonous chemicals.
數(shù)噸的舊電腦、舊手機以及其它的設備通常送到垃圾填埋區(qū)，或者被埋入地下。這些廢舊的產(chǎn)品也許會釋放有毒的化學物質(zhì)。
Now, some local governments in South Korea are launching special e-waste recycling programs. The city of Seoul throws out about 10 tons of e-waste each year. About 20 percent of that goes to the Seoul Resource Center, also known as the SR Center. There, electronic devices are taken apart so that valuable metals like gold or copper can be extracted and reused. South Korean officials say metal extraction is a $3.8 billion-dollar industry.
現(xiàn)在，韓國一些當?shù)卣l(fā)起電子垃圾循環(huán)利用的項目。首爾市每年會丟掉十噸的電子垃圾，大概只有20%電子垃圾會送到首爾資源中心。在那里，電子設備被分解成有用的金屬，比如金子或者銅能夠剝離出來，重新利用。韓國官員說這種金屬提取是價值38億元的行業(yè)。
Ji Un-geun is the chief executive officer of the SR Center. He says reusing electronic parts is not only about earning profits. He says the goal is to protect the environment.
金俊恩（Ji Un-geun）是首爾資源中心的首席執(zhí)行官，他說重新使用電子產(chǎn)品的部分零件不僅僅事關掙錢，最主要的目的是保護環(huán)境。
He says, “Our planet has a limited amount of natural resources. Our company contributes to a sustainable society, by conserving these materials.”
他說：“我們的地球，自然資源有限，我們公司通過節(jié)約使用這些金屬原材料，為可持續(xù)型社會貢獻一份力量。”
Ji Un-Geun says about 90 percent of what is brought to the center will be used on other products.
金俊恩說送到資源中心90%的電子垃圾分離的金屬會在其它產(chǎn)品中使用。
The increase of e-waste is not only a concern in South Korea. The United Nations says millions of tons of e-waste end up in developing countries. Toxic materials like lead and mercury can create a severe health risk to the local population.
電子垃圾的增加不僅僅是韓國關心的問題，聯(lián)合國稱發(fā)展中國家堆積成千百萬的電子垃圾。有毒物質(zhì)像鉛和汞會對當?shù)厝说慕】禈嫵蓢乐氐耐{。
The Seoul city government partnered with the SR Center to collect e-waste in 2009.
首爾市政府與首爾資源中心在2009年合作，收集電子垃圾。
Lee Tae-hong lives in the South Korean capital. He says recycling is also about protecting personal information from attack.
李泰宏（Lee Tae-hong）住在韓國的首都，他說循環(huán)利用能夠保護個人信息免遭惡意攻擊。
He says, “If devices like phones are not recycled, then they could illegally end up in other countries like China or in Southeast Asia, and personal data could be stolen.”
他說：“如果電子設備像手機如果不被回收利用，有可能就會被非法的運到其它國家，像中國或者東南亞國家，而且個人數(shù)據(jù)也會被盜取。”
But some environmental groups say not enough is being done to limit the amount of electronics sent to landfills. South Koreans keep buying more and more electronic gadgets. Some experts estimate that only 21 percent of the country’s total e-waste gets properly recycled.
但是一些環(huán)境保護組織說限制電子垃圾數(shù)量送往垃圾填埋區(qū)的努力做的還不夠。韓國人在購買越來越多的電子產(chǎn)品。一些專家估計只有21%的電子垃圾得到合理的回收利用。
Lee Joo-hong is with the Green Consumers Network. He says the average South Korean buys a new mobile phone every 18 months. He says companies offer special deals to buy new products.
李泰宏是綠色消費者網(wǎng)站的一員，他說韓國人平均一年半買一部新手機，公司與這些購買新產(chǎn)品的顧客簽有特殊協(xié)議。
He says, “People change their phones so quickly partially because companies offer big subsidies to buy new products. And Korean consumers do not want to feel left out by not having the latest model.”
他說：“人們更換手機如此迅速部分原因是因為公司向購買新產(chǎn)品的顧客提供很大的補貼優(yōu)惠。韓國消費者不想因為自己沒有最新的電子產(chǎn)品，覺得自己被排擠。”
Ji Un-geun agrees with Lee Joo-hong. He says that consumer behavior is a big reason why old phones continue to appear at the recycling center. But he says he is doing his part to reduce that.
李俊恩同意李泰宏的觀點。他說消費者的行為是為什么有那么多舊手機出現(xiàn)在回收利用中心的原因。但是他說他個人努力做到減少更換手機頻率。
He says, “I have had this same phone for 10 years. It is what I can do to help conserve our natural resources”
他說：“我手機已經(jīng)用了10年，這是我為保護自然資源所能做的一點努力。”
He says that more South Korean cities need to start their own recycling programs to keep up with the increasing amount of e-waste.
他說韓國更多的城市需要開始他們的垃圾回收利用計劃，來應對處理日益增長的電子垃圾。
I’m Jonathan Evans.
我是喬納森·伊凡斯。
______________________________________________________________
Words in this Story
extract – v. to remove something by pulling it out or cutting it out
gadgets – n. small, useful devices
subsidies – n. money that is paid usually by a government to keep the price of a product or service low or to help a business or organization to continue to function
toxic – adj. containing poisonous substances
South Korea Attempting to Reuse More E-Waste
 |
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South Korea is coping with increasing amounts of garbage from electronic devices, also called “e-waste.” |
South Korea is dealing with increasing amounts of waste from electronic devices. These useless or unwanted parts are often called “e-waste.”
Tons of old computers, telephones and other devicesare often taken to landfills and buried under the ground. The old products may leak toxic or poisonouschemicals.
Now, some local governments in South Korea arelaunching special e-waste recycling programs. The cityof Seoul throws out about 10 tons of e-waste eachyear. About 20 percent of that goes to the SeoulResource Center, also known as the SR Center. There,electronic devices are taken apart so that valuablemetals like gold or copper can be extracted andreused. South Korean officials say metal extraction is a $3.8 billion-dollar industry.
Ji Un-geun is the chief executive officer of the SR Center. He says reusingelectronic parts is not only about earning profits. He says the goal is to protectthe environment.
He says, “Our planet has a limited amount of natural resources. Our companycontributes to a sustainable society, by conserving these materials.”
Ji Un-Geun says about 90 percent of what is brought to the center will be usedon other products.
The increase of e-waste is not only a concern in South Korea. The UnitedNations says millions of tons of e-waste end up in developing countries. Toxicmaterials like lead and mercury can create a severe health risk to the localpopulation.
The Seoul city government partnered with the SR Center to collect e-waste in 2009.
Lee Tae-hong lives in the South Korean capital. He says recycling is alsoabout protecting personal information from attack.
He says, “If devices like phones are not recycled, then they could illegally endup in other countries like China or in Southeast Asia, and personal data couldbe stolen.”
But some environmental groups say not enough is being done to limit theamount of electronics sent to landfills. South Koreans keep buying more andmore electronic gadgets. Some experts estimate that only 21 percent of the country’s total e-waste gets properly recycled.
Lee Joo-hong is with the Green Consumers Network. He says the averageSouth Korean buys a new mobile phone every 18 months. He sayscompanies offer special deals to buy new products.
He says, “People change their phones so quickly partially because companiesoffer big subsidies to buy new products. And Korean consumers do not wantto feel left out by not having the latest model.”
Ji Un-geun agrees with Lee Joo-hong. He says that consumer behavior is abig reason why old phones continue to appear at the recycling center. But hesays he is doing his part to reduce that.
He says, “I have had this same phone for 10 years. It is what I can do to helpconserve our natural resources”
He says that more South Korean cities need to start their own recyclingprograms to keep up with the increasing amount of e-waste.
I’m Jonathan Evans.
*This report was based on a story from reporter Jason Strother in SouthKorea. Jonathan Evans wrote it for VOA Learning English. George Grow was the editor.
_______________________________________________________________
Words in this Story
extract – v. to remove something by pulling it out or cutting it out
gadgets – n. small, useful devices
subsidies – n. money that is paid usually by a government to keep the priceof a product or service low or to help a business or organization to continue tofunction
toxic – adj. containing poisonous substances
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